Chapter 12: The Mysterious Mechanism Lock

I glanced at the address Fiona left me and shook my head. "I don't know."

"She's got a Malifact on her," Cedric said. "And the Sinwaft is super heavy. I just heard her say that a master gave her the idea, her karaoke bar boss. I bet he won't last a few more days."

My heart clenched. No matter how bad Fiona had gotten, she wouldn't actually kill someone, right?

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

Cedric laughed. "You're so naive. Fiona faked her death and scammed that boss out of a ton of money. Not only did she not leave, but she stayed to keep running the bar. Isn't she afraid he'll kill her?"

I took a deep breath, horrified. Fiona must be sure the boss wouldn't live for a few more days, which was why she stayed.

"Do you know the name of that karaoke bar?"

Cedric's expression shifted. "What's your game? Save him?"

I nodded. "I can't let Fiona kill him."

Cedric was stunned for a moment. "Naive!"

Despite his mockery, he disclosed the name of the karaoke bar.

I rushed back to the café and, seizing the opportunity while Lorenzo was away, discreetly returned the black jade cup.

Seeing that the café wasn't busy, I thought about checking out the karaoke bar.

Before I could leave, a young woman rushed in. "Mr. Williams! Oh, it's you. Has Mr. Williams returned?"

It was the same woman who had come to buy a Malifact the other day.

"Mr. Williams is back, but..."

I thought Lorenzo had gone out, but before I could finish, I heard his voice from the stairs. "Who's looking for me?"

He came down from upstairs, saw me, and asked, "Dennis, did you go out this morning?"

I was a bit flustered and didn't know how to respond, so I nodded.

The young woman, seeing Lorenzo, looked hopeful and stepped forward to grab his hand. "Mr. Williams, I came here specifically to find you and ask for something."

Lorenzo invited the woman to sit down and gestured for me to sit as well. "Go ahead, what do you need?"

The woman glanced around. "A Malifact."

Lorenzo's lips curled into a smile. "Where did you hear about Malifact?"

"Lotus Blossom Tea Lounge."

Lorenzo nodded. "So, what's the reason behind your interest in a Malifact?"

"For my useless husband!"

The woman explained that her husband, a businessman, had a history of womanizing. Spending a little money and sleeping with a few women in the past was one thing, but recently he's become obsessed with a college girl, completely infatuated, on the verge of giving away all their family assets to her!

The woman, torn between her growing distress and her reluctance to confront her husband because of her desire for his wealth, searched high and low for assistance. Eventually, she caught wind that Lorenzo might hold the key to her predicament.

Lorenzo sighed after hearing this. "Tell me, what do you want to achieve?"

The woman sighed. "I just want my husband to come back to me. Of course, if that woman could die, that would be even better."

Lorenzo shook his head. "It's up to you. I can only make that woman leave your husband. The key to winning him back is in your hands. As for killing her, that's something I absolutely cannot do."

The woman thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll take it!"

Lorenzo looked at me and said, "Dennis, go to your room and find a suitable Malifact for our guest."

"Me?"

Lorenzo's words startled me, but then I thought maybe Alicia had told him I had read that leather book. Even so, I knew nothing about Malifact or Beneware!

Seeing my uncertainty, Lorenzo smiled and patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll find it."

With no choice, I went upstairs to my room, opened the cabinet, and took out the leather book, feeling lost. When Alicia came looking for the coffee cup, I had tidied up, and there was no Malifact or Beneware.

I opened the leather book but couldn't find any information.

Feeling troubled, I suddenly saw a black shadow flash inside the cabinet!

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I must have seen wrong.

A few moments later, I clearly saw a black snake shadow flash inside the cabinet!

There was something strange inside!

I quickly squatted down and knocked on the inside of the cabinet. Sure enough, it was hollow inside!

I took out the things in the way, leaned in to observe, and found a hidden lock mechanism!

When I was a kid, my dad taught me some handiwork, including similar mechanisms.

Using my phone as a light, I quickly figured out the trick, pressed on the inner panel, turned it clockwise three times, then counterclockwise half a turn, and heard a "click" as the lock opened!

I was delighted and carefully removed the inner panel, then turned to look inside. Before I could see clearly, a voice came from inside! "My son, how are you!"